Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting road quality

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle sensors to determine and report road quality using a communication device are disclosed. The communication device determines the vehicle&#39;s location on a road, such as by use of a GPS-enabled head unit or similar device and appropriate mapping software. Monitoring road quality may be achieved by adding a sensor to the shocks, by use of a vertical displacement sensor present on the head unit, and the like. Various combinations of sensors may be employed. A horizontal displacement sensor may be used. The signals from the sensors are monitored by the head unit and analyzed to judge the quality of the road by the amount of vertical vibration that is encountered. This data, together with the vehicle&#39;s location, may be transmitted through a mobile network to a central server for distribution in road quality reports and to improve driving directions in mapping software.

BACKGROUND

1. Statement of the Technical Field

Embodiments include computing systems and methods for determining,reporting, and updating road quality.

2. Description of the Related Art

The uses and applications of computers in vehicles such as automobilesare growing as manufacturers are increasingly including sophisticateddiagnostic sensor networks capable of monitoring operational conditionsand vehicle components, such as engine conditions, environmentalconditions, fuel consumption, mileage, tire pressure, and the like. Asmobile communications technology has become more widespread, automotivecomputing systems are available that also include network basedapplications including navigation, voice search, media streamingcapabilities, and the like.

Systems have been developed that monitor any of the various operationalconditions and vehicle components such as those listed above. On boarddiagnostics (OBD) standards in the automotive industry were madepossible with the advent of engine computer systems in the 1980s. In theUnited States, the OBD-II standard specifies a 16-pin diagnosticconnector that allows owners and mechanics to interface with an enginecomputer and access data from an engine control unit (ECU). Varioussensors are also monitored by the ECU.

Diagnostic systems have been developed that utilize the 16-pin OBD-IIconnector to monitor various vehicle systems. In particular, a number ofdevices are available on the market that allow a user to read andcontinuously monitor various sensors and data outputs directly throughthe diagnostic connector. However, these systems primarily rely solelyon the information provided by a single vehicle through its diagnosticconnector and do not allow for data aggregation across multiplevehicles.

Additionally, systems and methods have been developed for determiningroad roughness using response type road roughness meters. An exemplaryresponse type road roughness meter is the Mays Ride Meter which consistsof a tow vehicle and a trailer to measure 0.1 inch increments ofvertical axle movement with respect to the trailer frame. A pavementcondition recorder (“PCR”) is located in the tow vehicle to record alldata collected which may then be processed through a data playback unit(“DPU”). Aggregating road quality information across many differentroutes using existing systems would require such substantial resourcesas to be impractical.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle sensors to determine andreport road quality using a communication device including an electroniccircuit are provided. In an implementation, the communication device maybe integrated into a “head unit” controlling the vehicle's radio orstereo system, and the vehicle's location on a road may be determined bya GPS-enabled head unit or similar device together with appropriatemapping software. Monitoring road quality may be achieved by adding asensor to the shocks, by use of a vertical displacement sensor presentin the head unit, or the like. Various combinations of sensors may alsobe employed. The signals from the sensors are monitored by an electroniccircuit of the head unit and analyzed to judge the quality of the roadby the amount of vertical vibration that is encountered. This data,together with the vehicle's location, may be transmitted through amobile network to a central server for distribution in road qualityreports and to improve driving directions in mapping software.

In an illustrative implementation, vehicle sensor monitoring iscontinuous during vehicle operation. Also provided are methods andsystems for a server to receive road quality indications for ageographic location from multiple vehicles and generating an averageroad quality indication for the location. This average road qualityindication may then be used by the head unit's electronic circuit todetermine if there is a problem with one or more sensors and or torecalibrate one or more sensors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawingfigures, in which like numerals represent like items throughout thefigures, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary automotive system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary automotive system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary automotive device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for use in acommunication device for monitoring and reporting road quality.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for use in a server formonitoring and analyzing aggregate road quality indications

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example implementations of the present invention are described withreference to the attached figures. The figures are not drawn to scaleand they are provided merely to illustrate the instant invention.Several aspects are described below with reference to exampleapplications for illustration. It should be understood that numerousspecific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide afull understanding of the invention. One having ordinary skill in therelevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can bepracticed without one or more of the specific details or with othermethods. In other instances, well-known structures or operation are notshown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. The present inventionis not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as someacts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other actsor events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are requiredto implement a methodology in accordance with the present invention.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example,instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the wordexemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As usedin this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, orclear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of thenatural inclusive permutations. That is if, X employs A; X employs B; orX employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under anyof the foregoing instances.

Various implementations include systems and methods for monitoringvehicle sensors to determine and report road quality using acommunication device. In one such implementation, the communicationdevice may be a “head unit” controlling the vehicle's radio or stereosystem, and the vehicle's location on a road may be determined by aGPS-enabled head unit or similar device together with appropriatemapping software. Monitoring road quality may be achieved by adding asensor to the shocks, by use of a vertical displacement sensor presentin the head unit, and the like. Various combinations of sensors may alsobe employed. The signals from the sensors are monitored by an electroniccircuit of the head unit and analyzed to judge the quality of the roadby the amount of vertical vibration that is encountered. This data,together with the vehicle's location, may be transmitted through amobile network to a central server for distribution in road qualityreports and to improve driving directions in mapping software.

Automotive implementations may employ other devices. Use of the term“head unit” herein is intended to also include use of alternativedevices unless otherwise indicated. For example, various implementationsof the present invention may use alternative devices and deviceapplications including, but not limited to, mobile phone applications,portable computer applications, PDA applications, portable navigationdevice applications, as well as any other application in which vehiclesetting preferences may be automatically controlled based on a positionand/or identity of a person within the vehicle. Exemplary implementingsystem embodiments of the present invention will be described below inrelation to FIGS. 1-4. Exemplary method embodiments of the presentinvention will be described below in relation to FIGS. 5-6.

Exemplary Systems

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is provided a block diagram of anexemplary system 100 that comprises a vehicle 102, an onboard computer104, a network 106, a server 108 and satellites 112-116. The system 100may include more, less or different components than those illustrated inFIG. 1. However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose anillustrative embodiment implementing the present invention.

The vehicle 102 is also configured to allow the onboard computer 104 tocontrol and monitor various vehicle sensor systems and networks withinthe vehicle 102 including, but not limited to, sensors for monitoringvehicle diagnostic systems, environmental conditions within and outsidethe vehicle, road quality, engine tuning and performance, wind speed,and the like.

The onboard computer 104 is also configured to control and monitorvarious vehicle systems and networks based on information received fromthe server 108 via network 106. This information may include, but is notlimited to, an updated road quality indication algorithm. The updatedroad quality indication algorithm is determined by the server 108 basedat least on location data (e.g., the GPS data) and/or sensor dataobtained by the onboard computer 104. The sensor data includes, but isnot limited to, vertical displacement data, suspension data, time data,direction data, velocity data, and/or acceleration data. Methods fordetermining updated road quality indication algorithms are discussedbelow in reference to FIG. 6.

In an implementation, the vehicle 102 is a GPS enabled vehicle. As such,the vehicle 102 includes a GPS receiver (not shown in FIG. 1) incommunication with an onboard computer 104. Various implementations mayalternatively incorporate a GPS receiver with the onboard computer 104.The GPS receiver is generally configured to receive GPS signals from thesatellites 112-116 and process the GPS signals to determine an estimateof the current location of the vehicle 102 on Earth. The currentlocation of the vehicle 102 is determined by computing a differencebetween a time that each GPS signal is sent by a respective satellite112-116 and a time that the GPS signal was received by the GPS receiverof the vehicle 102. The time difference is then used by the vehicle 102to compute a distance, or range, from its GPS receiver to the respectivesatellite 112-116. Thereafter, the vehicle 102 computes its owntwo-dimensional or three-dimensional position using the computed rangesto the satellites 112-116 and a location of the satellites 112-116 whenthe GPS signals were sent therefrom. The multi-dimensional position isdefined by GPS data specifying a direction, a latitude, a longitude, analtitude and/or a velocity.

Methods for determining updated position estimates for vehicle 102 basedon GPS data or any other location based data, such as differential GPS(“DGPS”) are well known in the art, and therefore will not be describedin detail herein. Any such known method for determining updated locationestimates can be used with the present invention without limitation.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is provided a more detailed block diagramof the vehicle 102. The vehicle 102 will be described herein asincluding an onboard computer 104.

Notably, the vehicle 102 can include more or less components than thoseshown in FIG. 2. For example, the vehicle 102 can include a wired systeminterface, such as a USB interface (not depicted) to connect the onboardcomputer 104 with vehicle systems 222-228 and seat locations 210-216.However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrativeembodiment implementing the present invention. The hardware architectureof FIG. 2 represents one embodiment of a representative vehicleconfigured to monitor the road quality experienced by a vehicle 102. Inthis regard, the vehicle of FIG. 2 implements a method for monitoringand reporting road quality. Exemplary embodiments of said method will bedescribed below in relation to FIGS. 5-6.

Onboard computer 104 is also preferably controllably connected tovehicle systems 222-224. These systems may include, but are not limitedto, engine tuning systems, suspension systems, GPS/navigation systems,and the like. Vehicle systems 222-228 may be connected through a wiredconnection, as shown in FIG. 2, or by other means. In oneimplementation, the onboard computer 104 may be connected to a sensormonitoring the activity of the suspension system. For example, one ormore sensors may be used to monitor piston movement in the vehicle'sshock absorbers. Alternatively, onboard computer 104 may have a verticaldisplacement sensor capable of measuring vertical vibration. The onboardcomputer may use signals generated by these sensors to make adetermination of the road quality of the route the vehicle is currentlytraveling.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a more detailed block diagram of theonboard computer. The onboard computer 104 will be described herein ascomprising an in-dash computer 104, such as may be incorporated in avehicle, also commonly referred to as a “head unit”, and may beimplemented alone or in association with a video/dvd player, GPS unit,stereo unit, or the like. However, the disclosed embodiments are notlimited in this regard. For example, the onboard computer 104 canalternatively comprise a notebook, a laptop computer, a PDA, a tabletcomputer, a portable navigation device, or other device, and may belocated anywhere within vehicle 102.

Notably, the onboard computer 104 can include more or less componentsthan those shown in FIG. 3. For example, the onboard computer 104 caninclude a wired system interface, such as a universal serial businterface (not depicted). However, the components shown are sufficientto disclose an illustrative embodiment implementing the presentinvention. The hardware architecture of FIG. 3 represents one embodimentof a representative communication device configured to facilitate themonitor and report the road quality experienced by vehicle 102. In thisregard, the onboard computer of FIG. 3 implements methods for monitoringand reporting road quality experienced by vehicle 102. Exemplaryembodiments of said methods will be described below in relation to FIGS.5-6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the onboard computer 104 may include areceive/transmit (Rx/Tx) switch 304 to selectively couple the antenna302 to the transmitter circuitry 306 and receiver circuitry 308 in amanner familiar to those skilled in the art. The receiver circuitry 308demodulates and decodes the RF signals received from any componentsconnected to the onboard computer 104 through a wireless connection(e.g. wireless connection 250 of FIG. 2). The receiver circuitry 308 iscoupled to a controller 310 via an electrical connection 334. Thereceiver circuitry 308 provides the decoded RF signal information to thecontroller 310. The controller 310 uses the decoded RF signalinformation in accordance with the function(s) of the onboard computer104. For example, if the RF signals include identifier informationand/or location information for other communication devices (e.g.,devices 204-207 of FIG. 2), then the identifier and/or locationinformation can be used by the controller 310 to identify other devicesthat are pre-defined distances from or within range of the onboardcomputer 104. The controller 310 also provides information to thetransmitter circuitry 306 for encoding and modulating information intoRF signals. Accordingly, the controller 310 is coupled to thetransmitter circuitry 306 via an electrical connection 338. Thetransmitter circuitry 306 communicates the RF signals to the antenna 302for transmission to an external device (e.g., network equipment ofnetwork 104 of FIG. 1).

An antenna 340 is coupled to GPS receiver circuitry 314 for receivingGPS signals. The GPS receiver circuitry 314 demodulates and decodes theGPS signals to extract GPS location information therefrom. The GPSlocation information indicates the location of the vehicle 102. The GPSreceiver circuitry 314 provides the decoded GPS location information tothe controller 310. As such, the GPS receiver circuitry 314 is coupledto the controller 310 via an electrical connection 336. Notably, thepresent invention is not limited to GPS based methods for determining alocation of the vehicle 102. Other methods for determining a location ofa communication device may be used with the present invention withoutlimitation.

The controller 310 uses the decoded GPS location information inaccordance with the function(s) of the onboard computer 104. Forexample, the GPS location information and/or other location informationcan be used to generate a geographic map showing the location of thevehicle 102. The GPS location information and/or other locationinformation can further be used to determine the route the vehicle 102is traveling.

The controller 310 stores the decoded RF signal information and thedecoded GPS location information in a memory 312 of the onboard computer104. Accordingly, the memory 312 is connected to and accessible by thecontroller 310 through an electrical connection 332. The memory 312 canbe a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. For example, thememory 312 can include, but is not limited to, a Random Access Memory(RAM), a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a Static Random AccessMemory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM) and flash memory. The memory 312can also have stored therein the software applications 352 anduser-defined settings 354.

The software applications 352 include, but are not limited to,applications operative to monitor various diagnostic sensors within thevehicle 102. At least one of the software applications 352 is operativeto monitor and report road quality through processing of sensor,location, and other data to determine a road quality indication. Atleast one of the software applications 352 is also operative to transmitand/or receive various information to/from server 108.

The user-defined settings 354 comprise statements that define orconstrain some operations of the vehicle 102 and/or the onboard computer104.

As shown in FIG. 3, one or more sets of instructions 350 are stored inthe memory 312. The instructions 350 can also reside, completely or atleast partially, within the controller 310 during execution thereof bythe onboard computer 104. In this regard, the memory 312 and thecontroller 310 can constitute machine-readable media. The term“machine-readable media”, as used here, refers to a single medium ormultiple media that store the one or more sets of instructions 350. Theterm “machine-readable media”, as used here, also refers to any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding or carrying the set of instructions350 for execution by the onboard computer 104 and that cause the onboardcomputer 104 to perform one or more of the methodologies of the presentdisclosure.

The controller 310 is also connected to a user interface 330. The userinterface 330 is comprised of input devices 316, output devices 324, andsoftware routines (not shown in FIG. 2) configured to allow a user tointeract with and control software applications 352 installed on theonboard computer 104. Such input and output devices respectivelyinclude, but are not limited to, a display 328, a speaker 326, a keypad320, a directional pad (not shown in FIG. 2), a directional knob (notshown in FIG. 3), a microphone 322, a touch screen 318, and the like. Inone implementation, the keypad 320, touch screen 318, or similar devicemay be employed to directly input which seats are occupied by whichdrivers.

The microphone 322 facilitates the capturing of sound (e.g. voicecommands) and converting the captured sound into electrical signals. Theelectrical signals may be used by the onboard computer 104 interfacewith various applications 352.

Device interfaces 370 include various interfaces that allow the onboardcomputer 104 to interact with other devices and/or the environment inthe vehicle 102. Device interfaces include a generic device interface360 which may be any device interface including, but not limited to, ahardware interface, e.g. USB and IEEE 1394 variants, sensors 362, acamera 364 and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader or nearfield communication (NFC) transceiver 368, and the like. Embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited in this regard.

The sensors 362 may include, but are not limited to, verticaldisplacement sensors, motion sensors, an accelerometer, an altimeter, avelocity sensor and/or a gyroscope. Accelerometers, verticaldisplacement sensors, motion sensors, altimeters, velocity sensors andgyroscopes are well known in the art, and therefore will not bedescribed herein. However, it should be understood that the sensor datagenerated by the sensors 362 may be used by the onboard computer 104 todetermine an objective level of road quality.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is provided a more detailed block diagramof the server 108 of FIG. 1 that is useful for understanding the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 108 comprises a systeminterface 422, a user interface 402, a Central Processing Unit (CPU)406, a system bus 410, a memory 412 connected to and accessible by otherportions of server 108 through system bus 410, and hardware entities 414connected to system bus 410. At least some of the hardware entities 414perform actions involving access to and use of memory 312, which can bea Random Access Memory (RAM), a disk driver and/or a Compact Disc ReadOnly Memory (CD-ROM). Some or all of the listed components 402-422 canbe implemented as hardware, software and/or a combination of hardwareand software. The hardware includes, but is not limited to, anelectronic circuit.

The server 108 may include more, less or different components than thoseillustrated in FIG. 4. However, the components shown are sufficient todisclose an illustrative embodiment implementing the present invention.The hardware architecture of FIG. 4 represents one embodiment of arepresentative server configured to facilitate the provision ofautomatic software function control services to a user of acommunication device (e.g., onboard computer 104 of FIG. 1). As such,the server 108 includes an electronic circuit which implements a methodfor processing and aggregating road quality indication information froma plurality of vehicles as well as providing vehicles with informationbased on the road quality indications. Exemplary embodiments of saidmethod will be described below in relation to FIG. 6.

Hardware entities 414 can include microprocessors, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs) and other hardware. Hardware entities 414may include a microprocessor programmed for facilitating the provisionof the automatic software function control services to a user of thecommunication device (e.g., onboard computer 104 of FIG. 1). In thisregard, it should be understood that the microprocessor can access andrun various software applications (not shown in FIG. 4) installed on theserver 108. Such software applications include, but are not limited to,mapping software, road quality analysis software, and the like. Themapping software applications (not shown in FIG. 4) are operative tofacilitate the provision of updated maps and navigation routes to acommunication device (e.g., onboard computer 104 of FIG. 1) that take into account the estimated road quality derived from the road qualityindications received from the plurality of vehicles. The road qualityindication analysis and processing applications are operative tofacilitate the processing and aggregation of the various road qualityindications and other information transmitted to server 108 from acommunication device (e.g., onboard computer 104 of FIG. 1) and for theprovision of updated road quality indication algorithm to acommunication device (e.g., onboard computer 104 of FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, the hardware entities 414 can include a disk driveunit 416 comprising a computer-readable storage medium 418 on which isstored one or more sets of instructions 420 (e.g., software code or codesections) configured to implement one or more of the methodologies,procedures, or functions described herein. The instructions 420 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the memory 412 and/orwithin the CPU 406 during execution thereof by the server 108. Thememory 412 and the CPU 406 also may constitute machine-readable media.The term “machine-readable media”, as used here, refers to a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions 420. The term “machine-readable media”, as used here, alsorefers to any non-transient medium that is capable of storing, encodingor carrying a set of instructions 420 for execution by the server 108and that cause the server 108 to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

System interface 422 allows the server 108 to communicate directly orindirectly with external communication devices (e.g., onboard computer104 of FIG. 1). If the server 108 is communicating indirectly with theexternal communication device, then the server 108 is sending andreceiving communications through a common network (e.g., network 104 ofFIG. 1).

As noted above, the system 100 implements methods for monitoring,reporting, processing, and analyzing road quality information. Exemplaryembodiments of such methods will now be described in relation to FIGS.5-6.

Exemplary Methods

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is provided a flow diagram of anexemplary method 500 for monitoring and reporting road quality. Themethod 500 will be described in an automotive computing context but isnot limited in this regard and the method could be used in conjunctionwith other types of transport. The method 500 is useful in otherapplications, such as mobile phone and smart phone applications,portable computer applications, PDA applications, portable navigationdevice applications, and any other application in which monitoring andreporting of road quality is desired. The method 500 will also bedescribed in a GPS based context. The method 500 is also not limited inthis regard. The method 500 is useful in other location basedapplications, such as reference coordinate system based locationapplications, radiological topographical survey based locationapplications, local microwave/sonar beacon/receiver based locationapplications, ultrasound ranging based location applications, laserranging based location applications, and/or triangulation based locationapplications. Further, the method 500 will be described in reference toan electronic circuit, which may be present in any device capable ofrunning any of the above mentioned applications.

As shown in FIG. 5, the method 500 begins with step 502 and continueswith step 504. In step 504, an electronic circuit obtains a geographiclocation of a vehicle 102. In an implementation, the onboard computer104, which includes the electronic circuit, computes a location estimateof the vehicle 102 using the GPS signals. The location estimatespecifies an estimated geographic location of the vehicle 102 relativeto Earth's surface. The estimated position may be a multidimensionalestimated location, such as a two dimensional or three dimensionalestimated location. Methods for computing position estimates using GPSsignals are well known in the art, and therefore will not be describedhere. Any such method may be used in step 504 without limitation.

Upon completing step 504, step 506 is performed where the electroniccircuit monitors at least one sensor signal that corresponds to a roadquality indication. The sensor signal may be generated by any sensormonitoring vehicle systems relevant to a determination of road qualityincluding, but not limited to, suspension sensors, shock sensors, strutsensors, and/or any other vertical displacement sensor. A horizontaldisplacement sensor may be used in an implementation to detect when adriver quickly swerves to avoid a road obstacle. In an implementation,the onboard computer 104 may monitor a signal generated by a sensormeasuring activity of an active suspension system. In anotherimplementation, the signal may be generated by a sensor connected to theshocks or struts of a conventional suspension system. In anotherimplementation, the signal may be generated by a vertical displacementsensor included in the onboard computer 104. On skilled in the art willnote that this last implementation would not require the onboardcomputer to be directly connected with any of the vehicle systems, norwould it require the vehicle to have sophisticated suspension systemsand sensor networks. Regardless of where the sensor signal wasgenerated, the data may then be used by the onboard computer 104 tojudge the relative road quality of the road the vehicle 102 is travelingon as discussed in reference to step 508 below.

Upon completing step 506, step 508 is performed where the electroniccircuit computes a road quality indication of the road the vehicle 102is traveling on based on the sensor signal monitored in step 506. Thisdetermination may take into account a number of factors. For example,the onboard computer 104 may monitor and process a vertical displacementsensor somewhere in the vehicle 102, or a sensor attached to the strutsor shock absorbers of a conventional suspension system, to arrive at anobjective indication of road quality at the geographic road location ofthe vehicle 102. In an implementation, onboard computer 104 may haveinformation concerning the vehicle's make and model or have informationconcerning the type of suspension system the vehicle utilizes and itscondition. In this implementation, a vehicle with a sophisticated activesuspension system may return significantly different signals than avehicle with a convention suspension system. The onboard computer 104may run an algorithm on the signal received based on the type ofsuspension system installed on vehicle 102 to arrive at a standardizedor objective indication of road quality that is independent of thevehicle's suspension system.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the method 500 continues with step 510 wherethe electronic circuit transmits the geographic location and the roadquality indication of the vehicle 102 to a server, e.g. server 108 ofFIG. 1. In an implementation, the onboard computer compiles a reportincluding, among other information, the geographic location and the roadquality indication of the vehicle 102. The onboard computer 104, throughtransmitter circuitry 306 and antenna 302 shown in FIG. 3, transmits thereport to server 108 through network 106, shown in FIG. 1. The reportmay include, but is not limited to, the geographic location of thevehicle 102, the route vehicle 102 is currently traveling, the roadquality indication determined in step 508, the raw sensor data monitoredin step 506, the make and model of the vehicle 102, and the like.

Upon completing step 510, step 512 is performed where the electroniccircuit receives information updates that include average road qualityindicia based on a plurality of road quality indications from aplurality of vehicles. In an implementation, the information updatescontain averaged road quality indicia supplied from a table located onserver 108. The onboard computer 104 may use this information to updatethe local mapping software with the latest road quality updates.Additionally, the information updates may contain updated algorithms(e.g. the algorithm used in step 508, above) that allow for thegeneration of more accurate road quality indications. The generation ofthe information updates is discussed in further detail in reference toFIG. 6 below.

Upon completing step 512, step 514 is performed where the electroniccircuit compares the average road quality indicia to the road qualityindication determined in step 508. This comparison may be a simplecomparison of values. Alternatively, it may be a more sophisticatedcomparison involving an algorithm designed to detect problems with thelocal sensors located in vehicle 102. In an implementation, the onboardcomputer 104 may conduct a comparison of the road quality indicationdetermined in step 508 with the average road quality indicia receivedfrom server 108 in step 512 using an algorithm designed to detectpotential problems with the sensors, the onboard computer 104, or thealgorithm used to determine the road quality indication.

Upon completing step 514, step 516 is performed where the electroniccircuit analyzes the comparison conducted in step 514 to determine ifthe difference between the road quality indication and the average roadquality indicia is more than a predetermined amount. If the differenceis more than a predetermined amount, the onboard computer 104 indicatesa potential problem with the at least one sensor signal. In animplementation, the indication is a visual or audio warning on thedisplay of the onboard computer 104, shown in FIG. 3 as display 328. Theindication may be of a sensor problem, a suspension system problem, aproblem with the onboard computer 104, or the like. The predeterminedamount may be set by the manufacturer or may be dynamically determinedthrough the algorithms processed on the onboard computer 104 and/orserver 108.

In an implementation, the electronic circuit may analyze the comparisonconducted in step 514 to determine if the difference between the roadquality indication and the average road quality indicia is such as toindicate that one or more signal sensor needs to be recalibrated. If so,the onboard computer 104 may then recalibrate the one or more signalsensor.

Various implementations of the methods allow for the steps to beexecuted in a different order. For example, one or more sensor may bemonitored for determination of road quality prior to the onboardcomputer 104 obtaining and computing the geographic location. In anothercase, both sensor data and location data may be obtained on an ongoing,asynchronous basis, with the onboard computer's electronic circuitmatching, or pairing up, sensor data to the nearest location datatime-wise.

Upon completing step 516, step 518 is performed where the method 500ends or other processing is performed.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is provided a flow diagram of a secondexemplary method 600 for receiving and processing reported road qualityfor use in a server. The method 600 will be described in an automotivecomputing context. The present invention is not limited in this regard.The method 600 will also be described in a GPS based context. The method600 is also not limited in this regard.

As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 begins with step 602 and continueswith step 604. In step 604, an electronic circuit (e.g., a processor orother circuitry of server 108) obtains a geographic road location of avehicle 102 and a road quality indication of the geographic roadlocation. In an implementation, the geographic road location and theroad quality indication is obtained through a report transmitted from anonboard computer 104 in vehicle 102. The report may include, but is notlimited to the geographic location of the vehicle 102, the route vehicle102 is currently traveling, the road quality indication determined instep 508, the raw sensor data monitored in step 506, the make and modelof the vehicle 102, and the like.

Upon completing step 604, step 606 is performed where the electroniccircuit updates a table correlating the geographic road location and theroad quality indication. In an implementation, the server 108 obtainsreports from a plurality of vehicles and populates a table with the dateprovided in the reports. As indicated above, these reports may includebut are not limited to the geographic location of the reporting vehicle,the route the reporting vehicle is currently traveling, the road qualityindication as determined by the reporting vehicle, the raw sensor datamonitored by the reporting vehicle, the make and model of the reportingvehicle, and the like. This data is then populated into a database thatincludes at least a table correlating the geographic road location andthe road quality indication reported by the vehicles.

Upon completing step 606, step 608 is performed where the electroniccircuit determines average road quality indicia based on the roadquality indications from a plurality of vehicles. In an implementation,the server 108 obtains road quality indications from a plurality ofvehicles as detailed above. The server may aggregate the plurality ofroad quality indications into average road quality indicia for thegeographic road location.

In various implementations, various algorithms in addition to a simplemean may be employed to determine average road quality indicia. Forexample, a mean may be calculated, with one or more road qualityindications furthers from the mean removed from the calculation, and theaverage then calculated from the remaining road quality indications. Inaddition, the algorithms may calculate a weighted mean giving moreweight to road quality indications coming from trusted and known sourcesthan those coming from non trusted or unknown sources.

Upon completing step 608, step 610 and 612 are performed where theelectronic circuit generates a calibration factor for the vehicle 102and/or the geographic road location based on the difference between theroad quality indication obtained in step 604 and the average roadquality indicia determined in step 608. In an implementation, the server108 may also include one or more processing algorithms for analyzing theinformation contained in the reports. In an implementation, an algorithmmay be included that processes the information to provide furtherstandardization of the road quality indication. For example, using themake and model information provided by the reports, the server 108 maybe able to calibrate the data provided by particular makes and models toincrease the accuracy of the road quality data. Alternatively, usingdata from multiple vehicles traveling the same route, the server 108 maybe able to calibrate the data for a particular route to account forvariations in road quality due to the route traveled by the vehicle. Inthis implementation, if a signification proportion of vehicles travelinga particular route experience significantly better or worse road qualitythan the rest of the vehicles traveling the same route, the server 108may determine that one lane of the route has significantly better orworse road quality than the other lane of the same route. The server 108may also use data received by the server from other sources, includingbut not limited to, a map database, an vehicle database, and any otherdatabase containing publically available information. Theimplementations of the present invention are not limited in this regard.Server 108 may use the road quality information in generating routes orother navigation information to send to vehicles 102 and/or otherrequesting entities.

Upon completing step 610 and/or 612, step 614 is performed where theelectronic circuit provides, in response to a query, information updatesbased on at least one of the average road quality indicia, the generatedcalibration factor for the vehicle, and the generated calibration factorfor the geographic location. In an implementation, the informationupdates may be provided to a vehicle 102 requesting the informationupdate via network 106 as shown on FIG. 1. The information update mayinclude, but is not limited to, average road quality indicia of theroute the vehicle 102 is traveling, updated road quality indicationalgorithms that allow for more accurate generation of future roadquality indications by the onboard computer of vehicle 102, updated mapsand navigation routes, and the like. In an implementation, theinformation update is generated by server 108 based on the informationreports received from multiple vehicles in step 604. Alternatively, theinformation update may be generated by server 108 using only theinformation report from vehicle 102, along with other publicallyavailable information including, but not limited to, map information,vehicle manufacturer information, and the like.

The method 600 then continues to step 616 where method 600 ends or otherprocessing is performed.

In various implementations, the methods described above may beimplemented in systems and devices which include non-transientcomputer-readable media. Such systems may include at least oneelectronic circuit configured to perform the methods described above.Devices which include non-transient computer readable media may alsoinclude computer programs having a number of code sections. These codesections may be executable by a computer to cause the computer toperform the methods described above.

All of the apparatus, methods and algorithms disclosed and claimedherein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in lightof the present disclosure. While example embodiments have been shown, itwill be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may beapplied to the apparatus, methods and sequence of steps of the methodwithout departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention.More specifically, it will be apparent that certain components may beadded to, combined with, or substituted for the components describedherein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All suchsimilar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in theart are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of theinvention as defined.

1. A method for monitoring road quality using a device comprising anelectronic circuit, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining, bythe electronic circuit, a geographic location of a vehicle comprisingthe electronic circuit; monitoring, by the electronic circuit, at leastone sensor signal that corresponds to road quality; determining, by theelectronic circuit, a road quality indication of the geographic locationbased on the at least one sensor signal; wherein obtaining thegeographic location is performed using a global positioning system(GPS); wherein the at least one sensor signal is generated by at leastone of a suspension sensor, strut sensor, shock sensor, a horizontaldisplacement sensor, and a vertical displacement sensor; transmitting,by the electronic circuit, the geographic location and the road qualityindication to a server; receiving, by the electronic circuit,information updates from the server comprising an average road qualityindicia based on a plurality of road quality indications from aplurality of vehicles; comparing, by the electronic circuit, the averageroad quality indicia to the road quality indication obtained in thedetermining step; and, if the average road quality indicia differs fromthe obtained road quality indication by more than a predeterminedamount, indicating, by the electronic circuit, a potential problem withthe at least one sensor signal. 2-5. (canceled)
 6. A method formonitoring and reporting road quality by a server device comprising anelectronic circuit, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining, bythe electronic circuit, a report comprising the geographic road locationof a vehicle and a road quality indication of the geographic location;updating, by the electronic circuit, a table correlating the geographicroad location and the road quality indication; determining, by theelectronic circuit, average road quality indicia based on the roadquality indications from a plurality of vehicles; generating, by theelectronic circuit, a calibration factor for the vehicle based on thedifference between the obtained road quality indication and thedetermined average road quality indicia; and, generating, by theelectronic circuit, a calibration factor for the geographic locationbased on the difference between the obtained road quality indication andthe determined average road quality indicia.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising: providing, by the electroniccircuit in response to a query, information updates based on at leastone of the average road quality indicia, the generated calibrationfactor for the vehicle, and the generated calibration factor for thegeographic location.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein theinformation update comprises at least one of an updated navigationroute, an updated road quality indication algorithm, and average roadquality indicia.
 10. A system comprising: at least one sensor; at leastone electronic circuit configured to perform the following operations:obtaining a geographic location of a vehicle comprising the electroniccircuit; monitoring at least one sensor signal generated by the sensorthat corresponds to road quality; determining a road quality indicationof the geographic location based on the at least one sensor signal; aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver, wherein the electronic circuitis further configured to obtain the geographic location from GPS dataobtained from the GPS receiver; wherein the sensor is at least one of asuspension sensor, strut sensor, shock sensor, a horizontal displacementsensor and a vertical displacement sensor; a transmitter; and, areceiver, wherein the at least one electronic circuit is furtherconfigured to cause the transmitter to transmit the geographic locationand the road quality indication to a server, and to obtain from thereceiver information updates from the server comprising an average roadquality indicia based on a plurality of road quality indications from aplurality of vehicles; wherein the electronic circuit is furtherconfigured to perform the following operations: comparing the receivedaverage road quality indicia to the obtained road quality indication;and, if the received average road quality indicia differs from theobtained road quality indication by more than a predetermined amount,indicating a potential problem with the at least one sensor signal.11-14. (canceled)
 15. A device comprising an electronic circuit and anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon acomputer program for analyzing road quality information, the computerprogram having a plurality of code sections, the code sectionsexecutable by a computer to cause the computer to perform the steps of:obtaining, by the electronic circuit, a report comprising geographicroad location of a vehicle and a road quality indication of thegeographic location; updating, by the electronic circuit, a tablecorrelating the geographic road location and the road qualityindication; wherein the device further comprises code sections forcausing the computer to perform the steps of: determining, by theelectronic circuit, average road quality indicia based on the roadquality indications from a plurality of vehicles; generating, by theelectronic circuit, a calibration factor for the vehicle based on thedifference between the obtained road quality indication and thedetermined average road quality indicia; and, generating, by theelectronic circuit, a calibration factor for the geographic locationbased on the difference between the obtained road quality indication andthe determined average road quality indicia.
 16. (canceled)
 17. Thedevice according to claim 15 further comprising code sections forcausing the computer to perform the steps of: providing, by theelectronic circuit in response to a query, information updates based onat least one of the average road quality indicia, the generatedcalibration factor for the vehicle, and the generated calibration factorfor the geographic location.
 18. The device according to claim 17,wherein the information update comprises at least one of an updatednavigation route, an updated road quality indication algorithm, andaverage road quality indicia. 19-24. (canceled)